NEWS

The chain smokers might have to face tough times in New Delhi as the Delhi government seems to have reached the next level of controlling air pollution in the city. The health department of Delhi government is gearing up to keep tabs on the indoor air quality of bars, clubs, restaurants, offices, etc. The government will soon get a baseline data on the indoor air quality from John Hopkins University of the United States. The data will help the government in determining the indoor air pollution. On the basis of this data, the government will conduct an annual survey to check the air quality of various premises in the Capital. “We will focus on a group of buildings like restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, offices, among others in our approach to improve the indoor air quality. This will be based on the baseline data, which we will soon get from John Hopkins University,” said a senior official, adding that the analysis report should be available in a month’s time. He also said that the government might form a certain policy to bring down the higher level of air pollution found during the survey. “The data suggest that there are fewer offences in the Capital since the time we have started issuing challans for smoking in public,” he added. However, the city government is not to target individual buildings or offices in its step to improve the indoor air quality. “We will be picking up certain areas or groups of buildings like restaurants, clubs, bars or office complexes in our drive,” said the official. The move is significant as various pollution control boards have been concerned about the outdoor pollution only. The Delhi government is also working out a plan to make the Capital free of smoking before the city hosts the Commonwealth Games next year.